Whether for a buyer or a seller in the state of Connecticut, home inspection is an important part of the process. It's a check-up on the overall condition of a property that is non-invasive, but serves to identify any parts that are damaged or must be repaired. As such and to be credible, home inspections need to be carried out by certified home inspectors. The inspection needs to be thorough as well. A home inspector spending any less than three hours inspecting the average size home may not be going into the necessary depth of inspection.
Although you might think that older properties are more at risk from this kind of problem, a good home inspector will perform an equally thorough check on a new property, with sometimes revealing results. As a seller in Connecticut, home inspection is highly recommended before putting a property on the market. It's a safe bet that any buyer with the budget to buy your house will also take steps that ensure that the money is spent wisely. This means using a home inspector. So sellers, get there first and give yourselves the chance to put things right before the buyer tries to bring you down on price.
The checks that are performed in a home inspection are numerous and varied. Structural items and installations are inspected for solidity and safety, and range from insulation through steps and stairs to basement seepage and electrical capacity. The type of problem to be identified if present includes the presence of asbestos, fungal growth, condensation of water on pipes or surfaces and spalling (where bricks or concrete develop flaking or chipping because of water freezing in cracks in winter). Problems may be more or less serious. Knowing about them in advance helps a seller decide if a small investment can pay for itself or if the list price of the property will need to be adjusted.
A professional doing Connecticut home inspection should be able to show you certification of their skills by a recognized authority. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) is one such organization. Also, while no one expects to pay over the odds for competence and full and representative report, bear in mind that the cheapest solution is not necessarily the best.
As well as the detection of any problems that have a material impact either on the value of the property or in terms of safety, home inspections can also testify (if only be the absence of problems) to the sound nature of a house and its value to a prospective buyer. Home inspectors will sometimes give pre-inspection information or instructions to homeowners to make sure that some of the simple problems are avoided. An example in Connecticut home inspections is for the home owner to make sure that all the light bulbs are working, so as to avoid a report that states that a light is inoperable, which to a buyer might suggest a more serious electrical problem.
Scott is an editor for
CT Homes for Sale,
CT Homes Sale, and
CT Homes Scout.
